Ink-redible writers awarded

HUNDREDS of local writers shared their craft with the written word, and a handful of them were awarded, as part of Moorabool’s biggest writing competitions.

The awards ceremony for the Peter Carey Short Story Award and the Moorabool Young Writers Awards was held on Saturday 1 June at the Lerderderg Library.

Judged by authors Eugen Bacon and Allyse Near respectively, and presented by local writers Jem Tyley-Miller and Wayne Marshall, the competitions saw a broad range of entries in “the most competitive shortlist yet”, according to Ms Tyley-Miller.

“It was such a good day. It was really electric,” she said.

“I feel like it was one of the best events we’ve held so far in the history of the awards; the mood was wonderful.

“We had the combination of young shortlistees. I think we had 26 shortlistees for the Young Writers Award, and we also had people from all across Australia, some in-person and some online, to see who’d won the Peter Carey Short Story Award.

“The judges had everyone enthralled as they took lines from each story, and showed them the beauty of everyone’s writing.

“It was a fantastic day. Everyone was there to show their love and passion for storytelling.”

Andrea Pavleka was named the winner of the Peter Carey Short Story Award with That Golden Hour, while Adam Brannigan was named runner-up with Achievement Unlocked! Kill Malware Hitchhiker.

Julianne O’Brien won the Best Local Entry award with Project Darren.

This year’s theme for the Moorabool Young Writers Awards was The Key, and Thomas Best, Ellie Lynch, Lachlan Borg, Emily Pretty, and Alice Yearwood won the Early Years Primary Awards.

For the Middle Primary category, Evie Hill won with Kitty Kat Key, while Scarlett Taylor-Anderson was runner-up with Missing Key Card. Keira Attard came third with The Key, the Room and the Voice.

Mia Anderson won in the Upper Primary range with The Key, Imogen Borg came second with Dragon Key, and Amelie John placed third with The Camellia.

The Youth Awards Prize winners were Andrew Clark (Elite), Katelynne Nicholson (The Pegasus and I), and Wareesha Haw (Decade of Disappearance).